The Physics Behind a Curveball - The Magnus Effect

Ever seen a ball curve or bend in the air during a soccer game and wondered what exactly makes it curve?

Check out these curve shots:

Thank you to Kyle Kitzmiller and Brendan for their help with this video!

[Jasbir]

In the last kick, when the ball hit the post 1st time the ball bounced about in its plane and perpendicular to the post so it changed only its linear momentum. The angular momentum was conserved (not exactly since its real world) and again gave the ball Magnus effect to make it bend again to hit the post for the 2nd time btw a great

[RubikMaster]

It bounced twice because it continued to spin fairly fast in the same direction. This means it carried on curving. Another awesome video PhysicsGirl! Keep them coming, I love your unique video style.

[MyInvisibleChyrsalis]

It's called the "Magnus effect" and not "witchcraft" like I thought.

[hayesdabney]

Spent the last hour trying to find a video to clearly explain the Magnus effect to my daughter. You did it! Thanks!

[theravendork]

Your videos are wonderfully entertaining! The graphics are helpful and the content is dense. A real inspiration for those going into science / math fields. Thank you!

[Epenser]

ain't there also a gyroscopic effect ? (i think the word i'm looking for is torque...)

[Omni]

I learned a lot in this video.  Even more than some of minute physics :D

[nymeria]

Making my way through Dianna’s older videos after the Long COVID fundraising stream, and I just want to say I’m wishing both of you all the best, and thank you Dianna for making me smile by combining two of my favorite things: science and soccer!

[Whattheugi]

I have been trying to decide whether to take up some physics units at uni, i think these interesting vids have persuaded me!
Keep up the quality work :)

[NimishLad]

Mr Lad's Science Class thank you for a wonderful video; we were studying Newton's Third Law today and found this video incredibly useful and topical! The students were able to explain the 'double tap' in terms of frictional contact and the spin of the ball! Thanks again!

[positronwildhawk]

Physics Girl, I love your channel. I saw it from an angle, and I was mesmerised by your radians.

[jonatanpinadulucmusic]

Half in the bag used this piano jazz music. Great episode. I`m binging on all of them!

[nuclearteen]

Great video! I always wondered how that happened. Now I know Magnus effect.

[spectralsequence]

Definitely the best science video on YouTube

[gy]

I love all your videos physics girl. You are so interesting. So interesting that sometimes I can't concentrate on the physics part. Please put more.

[DanasaVFX]

i love physics and your videos are easy to understand and entertaining.
yay! new favorite channel!

[cjrouse]

The "knuckle ball" is a great examples of the (Theodore) Von Kármán vortex steet.

Vortex shedding is also very common in volleyball and less common but still used in baseball.

[mostafaelkady]

est hour i spent this month, watching physics girl (: keep it going!

[unknownvector]

since the orientation of balls rotation is same after hitting the post once it again curves left to hit the second time, nice video by the way your channel reminds me of backyard science, used to watch it when I was in school

[ebubechukwudi]

After all these years, the soccer player and Dianna get married 🤩